writing on water
Seven Days, Chris Welsby, 1974
My review of the recent BFI DVD compilation of Chris Welsby's films is in Vertigo Magazine's new 'electronic' edition, published on CD-ROM and also available to subscribers to the Vertigo website. I've only seen the website version so far but editor Metin Alsanjak promises that with the CD-ROM version we "will also have a chance try out new film criticism software 'Reframe', which allows clips from any DVD you have in your possession to be played alongside text or audio commentary". Hmmm. I will report back when I've had a chance to try out this digital marvel.
posted by Steven Ball at 11:27 pm
3 Comments:
Thats a pay to subscribe system isn’t it for Vertigo? Anyway my feeling with Welsby is that the early structural films such as Anemometer, Park, etc in which the camera speed or duration of shots is directly linked to what is happening in the frame or the environment in which the film is being shot (wind speed etc) are quite interesting but the more recent multiple monitor installations such as Tide Line which I saw at Tate St Ives and then again in a container in Vancouver seem well less interesting. Still I’m sure you have written a far longer and more eloquent critique..
I'm a little confused about the Vertigo subscription thing. As a writer for it I have been given a logon and password, but how a regular punter gets one isn't clear to me. Anyway largely agree with you re Welsby, my piece is certainly longer, but also tried to work through the implications of re-presenting what is very much filmic work - in an environmental sense as much as a 'material' one - on a DVD, the shift from affect to information. Anyway hopefully got a new wrinkle on that hoary old discussion. Also pointed out what a mess the BFI 'artists' film and video' release policy is.
Well subscribing to Vertigo on line seems to cost £4. There are some free sample articles avaialble to all comers but to get your hands on your review it seems you need to subscribe.
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